John stephenson



(No Model.)

. J. STEPHENSON.

BRAKE SHOE FOB GAR TRACKS,

Patented May 14, 1889..

@3213 M ali e puma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STEPHENSON, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y.

BRAKE-SHOE FOR CAR-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,229, dated May 14,1889.

Application filed July 20,1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OHN STEPHENSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Oar-Track Brake-Shoes, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in track brake-shoes for tram-cars;and it consists in constructing the shoes as fully set forthhereinafter, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a plan view of my improved shoe; Fig. 2, an elevation inpart section; Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3, Fig. 2.

The importance of being able to stop a car quickly is self-evident. Goodwheel-brakes will arrest the car-wheels and prevent rotation, but onsteep grades or wet or frosty rails the car slides. As accessory to thelocked wheels, track-brakes of crude construction have been triedwithout success until shoes with wood soles were introduced. It is aprinciple in mechanics that increase of contacting surface to a givenload does not increase friction, and therefore primary efforts withtrackbrakes (having metal soles) failed, butwood soles brought in a newfactor, because the wood sole picks up and incorporates in its surfaceparticles of sand, gravel, 850., whose sharp angles take hold of therail and add efficiency to the brake system.

Track-brakes thus far constructed have been perishable, requiringfrequent repairs and renewals. The work is hard to perform, because ofunfavorable location.

My invention is to produce a track-brake with more power and efficiency,more easily operated, less liable to get out of order, and easy ofaccess for adjustment and repairs.

I make a brake-shoe, 1, of metal, with a channel, 92, at the lower side,and place in the channel a wood block, which constitutes the sole 93,which is held in the shoe by one or more bolts, 94, near the uppersurface of the wood sole, through which and the adjacent metal walls thebolts pass. The head of the bolt is a cylinder, 95, of larger diameterthan the bolt, and at the top of its head is an angular crown adapted toreceive a machine-wrench Serial No. 280,511. (No model.)

for tightening the bolt in its place. The cylinder-head goes through afitting hole in the shoe-wall, and the bolt-shank through the block to ascrew-nut, 96, held incapable of turning in a pocket, 97, of the fartherwall, so

that a person at one side of the shoe can put a sole-block into theshoe, and when it is in place push the point of the bolt through thelarger hole in the side of the shoe and through the sole-block, thepoint of the screw entering into its screw-nut in the pocket, and thenap ply the wrench to the angular crown, and thus tighten up the bolt,pinching the sole-block between the cylin der-head and the shoe-wall atthe other end of the bolt. Thus a workman at the outside of the cal-andunable to get under the car, having no assistant, can quickly remove theremains of an old shoesole and put a new sole in place and screw up thebolt, holding the sole tightly in place.

Auxiliary to the bolts through the sole and walls there is within thechannel 92 a crossbar, 98, indented into the upper side of the wood soleto prevent the sole from being jerked out of its place. On the upperside of the shoe I make, near each end, a lug, 99, prepared to receiveone end of articulated coupling-bar, the other end of which bar connectswith an arm of the rock-shaft, a similar bar and connections being atthe other end of the shoe, as set forth in a separate application forLetters Patent, Serial No. 280,512. Toward the central part of the shoerises one or more limbs, 90, constituting vertical members of the shoeintegral therewith, projecting to one side of the shoe-wall, as shown,and adapted to enter vertical guides attached to the truck or carriagepart, the guides being adapted to direct the vertical motion of the shoeand prevent the shoe from displacement.

I claim 1. A car-track brake-shoe with a wood sole and an integralmember projecting a distance from the side of the shoe and uprising tocontact with stops adapted to prevent displacement of the shoe whenoperating on the tramrail, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A track brakeshoe having a channeled under side suitable forreceiving and holding a Wood. sole, and on the upper side of the shoelugs fitted for the actuating-rods, and proj eating sidewise from one ofthe shoe-walls one or more uprising members integral with the shoe andadapted to guide-channels con trolling the Vertical motions of the shoe,sub stanti-ally as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname i to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN S'JEPIIENSON.

\Vitnesses:

STUART A. STEPHENSON, CHARLES E. FosTER.

